Ramazan Eles 
The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has postponed its decision on spot Ether exchange-traded funds (ETFs) proposed by Hashdex and ARK 21Shares. This delay comes just days before the agency’s “third deadline” and pushes final decisions to late May.
Analyst Pessimism Grows on Ether ETF Approvals
Analysts have grown increasingly pessimistic about the chances of approval for the eight proposed Ether ETFs. This shift comes amid a lack of communication between the SEC and the issuers, including BlackRock, Grayscale, Fidelity, and others. Bloomberg ETF analyst James Seyffart expressed his growing concern due to this radio silence, revising his previous cautious optimism to an expectation of denial by May 23rd.
Public Sentiment Mirrors Analyst Downturn
Public confidence in Ether ETF approval by the end of May has also fallen sharply. Polymarket, a decentralized betting platform, shows odds dropping from 77% in January to just 32% currently. Over $2 million has been wagered on the outcome on Polymarket.
Grayscale Considers Staking to Enhance Ether ETF Appeal
In an attempt to improve their ETF’s competitiveness, Grayscale is exploring adding staking capabilities to its spot Ether ETF proposal. This would allow them to earn rewards on the underlying Ethereum holdings, potentially mitigating inflationary pressures and matching similar products. Grayscale’s proposal requires shareholder approval with over 50% consent needed to proceed.